Alpha Acquisitions: The Case for Insiders Purchasing at Peak Prices Over Buying the Dip
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 28 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Insider Trading Patterns: Corporate insiders typically buy shares when prices are low, reflecting confidence in future growth; however, buying near highs can signal significant information and potential profitability.
Behavioral Biases: Insiders often exhibit biases like anchoring, leading to purchases at lows and sales at highs; when they deviate from this pattern, it may indicate valuable insights into the company's future.
Market Performance: Insider trades that go against common patterns (buying high or selling low) tend to outperform the market, with returns exceeding 3% over 30 days for high buys and underperformance of about 1% for low sells.
Recent Insider Activity: Notable insider purchases include Hilltop Holdings, Valvoline, and Republic Services, where executives bought shares close to their 52-week highs, suggesting positive expectations for these companies.
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Analyst Views on VVV
Wall Street analysts forecast VVV stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 37.680
Low
30.00
Averages
39.15
High
44.00
Current: 37.680
Low
30.00
Averages
39.15
High
44.00
About VVV
Valvoline Inc. provides automotive preventive maintenance services, convenient and trusted services in its retail stores throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's service includes 15-minute stay-in-your-car oil changes; battery, bulb and wiper replacements; tire rotations, and other manufacturer-recommended maintenance services. It has 2,300 franchised and Company-operated service centers across the United States and Canada. The vehicle maintenance services offered by the Company include air filter replacement, battery replacement, differential fluid, fuel system cleaning, headlight and taillight replacement, radiator service, tire rotation, transmission service, air conditioning, and wiper blade replacement. The Company’s services are offered to a range of vehicle types, serving both consumers and commercial customers, such as hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, medium duty and passenger car motor oil light duty.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Fundraising Achievement: Since 2018, the event has raised over $2.3 million for children's health, advancing innovative research and child-friendly programs that significantly improve patient care and outcomes.
- Community Engagement: Valvoline's partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals spans sixteen years, ensuring local hospitals have the necessary resources to provide exceptional care through employee engagement and corporate giving.
- Service Network: Valvoline operates over 2,300 service centers across the U.S. and Canada, completing more than 30 million services annually, committed to meeting the evolving needs of customers through quick and convenient automotive maintenance.
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Valvoline Supports Children's Health Event in Arizona
- Event Support: Valvoline Inc. proudly supports the 'Concours in the Hills' automotive event, now in its twelfth year, aimed at raising funds for children's health through Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, showcasing the company's commitment to the community.
- Fundraising Achievement: Since 2018, the event has raised over $2.3 million for the Phoenix Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Support Fund, driving innovative research and child-friendly programs that significantly improve patient care and outcomes.
- Community Impact: Valvoline's Market Manager Brandon Hoffman stated that the event exemplifies the power of community unity, celebrating automotive passion while delivering real impact for children's health across Arizona, reflecting corporate social responsibility.
- Long-term Partnership: Valvoline's partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals spans sixteen years, supporting life-saving care for children and families nationwide through its 'Happy to Help' community involvement platform, ensuring local hospitals have the resources needed for exceptional care.
See More
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- Overview of Updates: While specific upgrades and downgrades are not detailed, the overall rating changes may prompt investors to reassess their positions, potentially affecting trading volumes and price fluctuations of the related stocks.
- Expected Market Reaction: Analyst rating adjustments typically elicit immediate market responses, and investors should monitor these changes to seize potential investment opportunities or mitigate risks.
- Source of Information: This information is provided by Benzinga, highlighting the significance of analyst ratings in investment decisions, and investors are encouraged to regularly check the analyst ratings page for the latest updates.
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- Margin Improvement: The gross margin rate increased to 37.4%, up 50 basis points year-over-year, primarily driven by labor and product cost leverage, demonstrating significant progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Acquisition Integration Progress: The Breeze acquisition added 162 stores, expected to contribute approximately $160 million in revenue and $31 million in EBITDA for fiscal 2026, and despite initial integration challenges, management remains optimistic about future growth prospects.
- Cash Flow Enhancement: Operating cash flows improved to $64.8 million, with free cash flow at $7.4 million, representing an approximately $20 million improvement compared to the prior year quarter, showcasing the company's positive financial health and capital management efforts.
See More
Valvoline Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Strong Earnings Performance: Valvoline reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.37, beating expectations by $0.04, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability despite market challenges.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company posted revenue of $462 million, an 11.6% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $0.98 million, showcasing Valvoline's robust sales and market demand.
- Store Sales Increase: System-wide store sales rose 13% to $924 million, with same-store sales growing 5.8%, reflecting sustained consumer demand and brand loyalty towards Valvoline products.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: Adjusted EBITDA reached $117 million, a 14% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EPS rising 16%, demonstrating the company's success in optimizing operations and cost control despite challenges from the FTC.
See More
Valvoline Supports Children's Health Event in Arizona
- Event Support: Valvoline Inc. proudly supports the 'Concours in the Hills' car show, now in its twelfth year, aimed at raising funds for children's health, particularly benefiting the Phoenix Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
- Fundraising Achievement: Since 2018, the event has raised over $2.3 million for children's health, advancing innovative research and child-friendly programs that significantly improve patient care and outcomes.
- Community Engagement: Valvoline's partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals spans sixteen years, ensuring local hospitals have the necessary resources to provide exceptional care through employee engagement and corporate giving.
- Service Network: Valvoline operates over 2,300 service centers across the U.S. and Canada, completing more than 30 million services annually, committed to meeting the evolving needs of customers through quick and convenient automotive maintenance.
See More
Valvoline Supports Children's Health Event in Arizona
- Event Support: Valvoline Inc. proudly supports the 'Concours in the Hills' automotive event, now in its twelfth year, aimed at raising funds for children's health through Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, showcasing the company's commitment to the community.
- Fundraising Achievement: Since 2018, the event has raised over $2.3 million for the Phoenix Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Support Fund, driving innovative research and child-friendly programs that significantly improve patient care and outcomes.
- Community Impact: Valvoline's Market Manager Brandon Hoffman stated that the event exemplifies the power of community unity, celebrating automotive passion while delivering real impact for children's health across Arizona, reflecting corporate social responsibility.
- Long-term Partnership: Valvoline's partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals spans sixteen years, supporting life-saving care for children and families nationwide through its 'Happy to Help' community involvement platform, ensuring local hospitals have the resources needed for exceptional care.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Adjust Ratings
- Analyst Rating Changes: Top Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings on several companies, indicating a shift in market sentiment that could influence investor decisions and market trends.
- Overview of Updates: While specific upgrades and downgrades are not detailed, the overall rating changes may prompt investors to reassess their positions, potentially affecting trading volumes and price fluctuations of the related stocks.
- Expected Market Reaction: Analyst rating adjustments typically elicit immediate market responses, and investors should monitor these changes to seize potential investment opportunities or mitigate risks.
- Source of Information: This information is provided by Benzinga, highlighting the significance of analyst ratings in investment decisions, and investors are encouraged to regularly check the analyst ratings page for the latest updates.
See More
Major Wall Street Rating Updates
- Apple Siri Upgrade Delay: Evercore ISI reiterates Apple as outperform, suggesting that reports of delays in Siri upgrades are overstated, with expectations for a multi-phase rollout of AI features this year, emphasizing the importance of privacy protection and seamless integration.
- Shopify Attractiveness Upgrade: TD Cowen upgrades Shopify from hold to buy, citing its strong quarterly performance and continued growth momentum as compelling reasons for investors to consider the stock, especially given its recent price decline.
- Fastly's Stellar Performance: William Blair upgrades Fastly from market perform to outperform following impressive earnings, driven by a significant increase in AI traffic contributions, indicating substantial growth potential in this emerging sector.
- MercadoLibre's Improved Competitive Landscape: JPMorgan upgrades MercadoLibre from neutral to overweight, noting a reduction in competitive pressures in the Latin American online marketplace, with expectations for sustained growth in the coming quarters.
See More
Valvoline Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings with Network Expansion
- Significant Sales Growth: Valvoline achieved net sales of $462 million in Q1 2026, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase and a 15% rise when adjusted for refranchising impacts, indicating strong market demand and effective pricing strategies that further solidify its industry position.
- Margin Improvement: The gross margin rate increased to 37.4%, up 50 basis points year-over-year, primarily driven by labor and product cost leverage, demonstrating significant progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Acquisition Integration Progress: The Breeze acquisition added 162 stores, expected to contribute approximately $160 million in revenue and $31 million in EBITDA for fiscal 2026, and despite initial integration challenges, management remains optimistic about future growth prospects.
- Cash Flow Enhancement: Operating cash flows improved to $64.8 million, with free cash flow at $7.4 million, representing an approximately $20 million improvement compared to the prior year quarter, showcasing the company's positive financial health and capital management efforts.
See More
Valvoline Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Strong Earnings Performance: Valvoline reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.37, beating expectations by $0.04, indicating ongoing improvements in profitability despite market challenges.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company posted revenue of $462 million, an 11.6% year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by $0.98 million, showcasing Valvoline's robust sales and market demand.
- Store Sales Increase: System-wide store sales rose 13% to $924 million, with same-store sales growing 5.8%, reflecting sustained consumer demand and brand loyalty towards Valvoline products.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: Adjusted EBITDA reached $117 million, a 14% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EPS rising 16%, demonstrating the company's success in optimizing operations and cost control despite challenges from the FTC.
See More
